Apparatus, systems and methods for providing edge cached media content to media devices based on user history

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods provide media content events to media devices. An exemplary system receives a request for a media content event from a first media device; communicates the media content event to an edge server that is communicatively coupled to the first media device based on an identifier of the requesting media device; identifies a second media device based on preferred media content event characteristics associated with the second media device, wherein at least one media content event characteristic of the requested media content event corresponds to at least one of the preferred media content event characteristics of the second media device, and wherein the second media device is able to communicatively couple to the edge server; and in response to identifying the second media device, communicates an identifier of the second media device to the edge server, wherein the requested media content event is communicated to the second media device.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 14/589,585, filed Jan. 5, 2015, published as U.S.Publication No. 2015/0127780, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODSFOR PROVIDING EDGE CACHED MEDIA CONTENT TO MEDIA DEVICES BASED ON USERHISTORY” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,063,605 on Aug. 28, 2018, whichis a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.13/352,822, filed Jan. 18, 2012, published as U.S. Publication No.2013/0185382, entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDINGEDGE CACHED MEDIA CONTENT TO MEDIA DEVICES BASED ON USER HISTORY” andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,930,491 on Jan. 6, 2015, the contents of whichare incorporated herewith in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box, a stereo, a television, a computersystem, a game system, or the like, are often configured to receivemedia content for presentation to a user viewing and listening to one ormore media presentation devices. For example, a set top box (STB) mayreceive a media content event, such as a movie. After processing, theSTB communicates the movie to a television and/or receiver system forpresentation to the user.

Various media content provider systems employ a broadcast-based mediumwhich broadcasts, from a single source, media content to many mediadevices. For example, a satellite-based media content provider systemuplinks media content to a plurality of satellites. The satellites thenbroadcast the media content down many earth-based antennas which receivethe satellite signals. The received satellite signals are processed andcommunicated to a STB that is communicatively coupled to the antenna.The STB further processes the received satellite signal to generate asignal corresponding to the media content event that is sent to themedia presentation devices.

However, the user of a media device receiving the broadcasted mediacontent is limited to selecting only the currently available broadcastmedia content. Even though hundreds of channels of different mediacontent may be available, the user may wish to view a media contentevent that is not being currently broadcast. For example, the user maywish to view a particular movie that is not currently being broadcasted.

Some STBs are provisioned with a digital video recorder (DVR) that isconfigured to store a plurality of media content events using a largememory capacity storage medium. In some instances, where the user isaware of a scheduled future broadcast time of the particular mediacontent event of interest, the user may configure their STB toautomatically save the particular media content event of interest whenit is broadcasted over the media content provider system and is receivedat the STB.

In other instances, the media content provider may select one or moremedia content events of interest which the media content providerbelieves will likely be of interest to the user. The selected mediacontent events of interest are broadcast to the STB and areautomatically saved into the DVR. In some instances, the broadcastingoccurs over a secure channel that is not user accessible, and/or isbroadcast during off peak usage times, such as late at night. If theuser wishes to view one or more of these pre-stored media contentevents, then the pre-stored media content events are immediatelyaccessible from the STB DVR. Typically, such pre-stored media contentevents are premium programs or movies available on a pay-per-view basis.Thus, the user must make arrangements with the media content provider toobtain authorization to access the pre-stored media content events ofinterest.

In yet another instance, the STB may have a backchannel connection thatprovides a communication link back to a remote media content accessdevice. Once the user has made arrangements with the media contentprovider for authorized access to a particular media content event ofinterest, the selected media content event of interest is communicatedfrom the remote media content access device to the STB via theestablished communication link. An example backchannel is an Internetconnection which is configured to connect the STB to the Internet. Themedia content access device may be an interact site or the like.Accordingly, the selected media content event of interest is sent fromthe media content access device to the STB via the Internet.

However, media content events of interest may be very data intensive,particularly if the selected media content event of interest is providedin a high definition (HD) format. Due to the amount of data of theselected media content event of interest, due to other traffic over theInternet, and due to other transfer capacity limitations, the selectedmedia content event of interest may not be able to be communicated fromthe remote media content access device to a particular STB in real time.That is, the user may have to wait some duration for communication ofthe selected media content event of interest, or for communication of atleast a substantial initial portion of the selected media content eventof interest, before the user may begin to view the selected mediacontent event of interest. In view of this delay, the user may opt toforgo selecting the particular media content event of interest, andinstead, choose to view an immediately available (and likely cost free)different media content event of interest.

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to provide systems and methodsthat are more effective in providing media content events of interest toa user in a timely manner.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods operable to provide media content events to mediadevices are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment receives, at a mediacontent event access system, a request from a first media device for amedia content event; communicates the requested media content event fromthe media content event access system to an edge server that iscommunicatively coupled to the first media device, wherein the firstmedia device is identified by a first identifier, and wherein the edgeserver communicates the requested media content event to the first mediadevice based on the first identifier; identifies a second media devicebased on preferred media content event characteristics associated withthe second media device, wherein at least one media content eventcharacteristic of the requested media content event corresponds to atleast one of the preferred media content event characteristicsassociated with the second media device, and wherein the second mediadevice is able to communicatively couple to the edge server; in responseto identifying the second media device, communicates an identifier ofthe second media device to the edge server; wherein the requested mediacontent event is also communicated to the identified second mediadevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an automatic contentdownload manager system implemented in communication environment havinga plurality of exemplary media devices; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary media device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an automatic contentdownload manager system 100 implemented in a communication environmenthaving a plurality of exemplary media devices 102 a-i, genericallyreferred to as a media device 102. Examples of media devices 102 a-i mayinclude, but are not limited to, a set top box (STB), storage medium(referred to interchangeably as a digital video recorder (DVR)), a gameplaying device, a personal computer (PC), a netbook, or the like thatare configured to receive media content that is broadcasted from themedia content broadcast facility 106. The media content may be thenpresented on a media presentation device 107, such as the non-limitingexample television (TV). The storage medium may be any storage mediumconfigured to store media content events.

The media devices 102 receive broadcasted media content in a broadcastedmedia content signal communicated via a media content broadcastcommunication environment 104. The media content is broadcast from amedia content broadcast facility 106. In some systems, the media contentbroadcast facility 106 may be referred to as a head end. The mediacontent broadcast facility 106 is operated by a media content provider.The media content provider controls which particular media contentevents, and the broadcast times of the media content events, that arebroadcasted from the media content broadcast facility 106.

The automatic content download manager system 100 embodied in theexample media devices 102 a-i is further configured to bidirectionallycommunicate via a communication system 108. A portion of thecommunication system 108 is preferably a node-based communicationsystem, and may be a private data transport system that transports data(such as media content events) for a fee. Other portions of thecommunication system 108 may be a public system, such as the Internet orthe like. In some embodiments, the communication system 108 is aplurality of discrete communication networks interconnected by nodes,such as edge servers. (One skilled in the art appreciates thatindividual portions of the communication system 108 are notillustrated.)

In the example embodiment of FIG. 1, a first edge server 110 iscommunicatively coupled to each of the media devices 102 a-i via asuitable communication link 112 a-i, generically referred to as acommunication link 112. A second edge server 114 is communicativelycoupled to the media content event access system 116 via a suitablecommunication link 118. The communication links 112 and/or 118 may beestablished on an as-needed basis, may be a dedicated communicationlink, or may be a network of a plurality of cooperatively operatingindividual communication links.

The second edge server 114 is configurable to communicate to the firstedge server 110 via a suitable communication link 120 established overthe communication system 108. The communication link 120 may beestablished across a plurality of intervening nodes. Alternatively, oradditionally, the communication link 120 may be established external tothe communication system 108. Further, the communication link 120 may bea dedicated communication link, or may be a plurality of individualcommunication links, associated with an edge server communicationsystem. In contrast, the communication links 112 may be establishedbetween the first edge server 110 and the media devices 102 via theInternet.

Embodiments of the automatic content download manager system 100 areconfigured to provide a particular media content event to a requestingone of the media devices 102. The requested media content event isstored (cached) at the media content event access system 116, and istypically not being currently broadcasted from the media contentbroadcast facility 106. Further, the requested media content event hasnot been stored on the requesting one of the media devices 102 (since ifstored, the media content event could be directly accessed from theuser's media device 102).

The request for the requested media content event may be communicatedfrom the requesting media device 102 to the media content event accesssystem 116 in any suitable manner. In an example embodiment, therequesting media device 102 may communicate the request to the mediacontent event access system 116 over an established. Internet-basedcommunication link (not shown). Alternatively, or additionally, therequesting media device 102 may communicate the request to the mediacontent event access system 116 over the links 112, 120, 118.Alternatively, or additionally, the requesting media device 102 maycommunicate the request to the media content broadcast facility 106, orto another remote device and/or third party entity, which thencommunicates the request to the media content event access system 116.

In response to receiving the request for a particular media contentevent, the requested media content event is communicated from the mediacontent event access system 116 to the second edge server 114, via thecommunication link 118. Then, the requested media content event iscommunicated from the second edge server 114 to the first edge server110, via the communication link 120. In some embodiments, the requestedmedia content event is communicated from media content event accesssystem 116 to the first edge server 110.

The requested media content event is temporarily stored (cached) at thefirst edge server 110. The identifier associated with the requestingmedia device 102 is included with, or associated with, the receivedrequested media content event. The identifier uniquely identifies eachparticular media device 120 from a plurality of other media devices 120,Accordingly, the first edge server 110 may use the identifier of therequesting media device 102 to communicate the requested media contentevent to the requesting media device 102. (The requesting media device102 is one of the media devices 102 a-i that are linked to the firstedge server 110 via their respective communication link 112 a-i).

The requested media content event is temporarily stored in the firstedge server 110 for a specified or predefined duration (cached orstorage time). After expiration of the storage duration, the requestedmedia content event is erased, over written, or otherwise deleted fromthe memory of the first edge server 110 so that the first edge server110 may receive and transmit other data to other devices to which it isalso linked.

Embodiments of the automatic content download manager system 100 areconfigured to predict which other ones of the non-requesting mediadevices 102 a-i may be likely to, at a later time, request the samemedia content event. The prediction is based on an analysis of usagehistory, and/or a user history, of each of the other ones of the mediadevices 102 a-i that are, or may be linked, to the first edge server110. If identified as a media device 102 that is likely to be requestingthe requested media content event at some future time, such mediadevices 102 are generically referred to herein as a “predictedrequesting media device” 102. If embodiments of the automatic contentdownload manager system 100 determine that one or more of the othermedia devices 102 a-i is a predicted requesting media device 102, andtherefore will be likely requesting the same media content event at afuture time, identifiers of those other media devices 102 a-i(identifiers of the predicted requesting media device 102) will becommunicated to the first edge server 110.

Based on the received identifiers of the predicted requesting mediadevices 102 that are predicted to make a future request for thecommunicated media content event, the media content event is also sentfrom the first edge server 110 to those predicted requesting mediadevices 102 for storage. Then, if a user of those predicted requestingmedia devices 102 that have stored the media content event decides torequest the media content event, the requested media content event isalready available from the storage medium of their respective predictedrequesting media device 102. Accordingly, the requested media contentevent does not have to be re-transmitted from the media content eventaccess system 116 to the first edge server 110.

The identifiers of the predicted requesting media devices 102 may becommunicated with the requested media content event to the first edgeserver 110. Alternatively, may be separately communicated to the firstedge server 110. The identifiers of the requesting media device 102 andany identified predicted requesting media devices 102 may becommunicated in any suitable manner. In an example embodiment, theidentifiers are communicated via the links 118, 120 at the time ofcommunication of the requested media content event to the first edgeserver 110. Alternatively, the identifiers may be included with, orembedded within, the communicated media content event. In otherembodiments, the requesting media device 102 may communicate theidentifiers to the first edge server 110 over an establishedInternet-based communication link (not shown).

An unexpected advantage provided by embodiments of the automatic contentdownload manager system 100 is a cost savings to the media contentprovider that provides the requested media content event to subscribingmedia devices 102 a-i. One skilled in the art appreciates that, in a feebased third party edger server system, each time that a media contentprovider sends a media content event to a requesting one of the mediadevices 102 a-i, the media content provider must pay a transaction feeto the owner/operators of the communication system 108, the first edgeserver 110, and/or the second edge server 114 for the communicationservice. When multiple ones of the media devices 102 a-i (the requestingmedia device 102 and the predicted requesting media devices 102)concurrently receive the same requested media content event from asingle transaction, then the media content provider is able to providethe requested media content event to the plurality of media devices 102a-i using a single communication event that incurs a single transactionfee. Accordingly, the media content provider can avoid subsequenttransaction fees when other ones of the media devices 102 a-i (thepredicted requesting media devices 102) later request the same mediacontent event (since the requested media content event is alreadyavailable on those predicted requesting media devices 102).

Another unexpected advantage provided by embodiments of the automaticcontent download manager system 100 is a bandwidth savings between themedia content event access system 116 and the second edge server 114. Inthe event that different ones of the media devices 102 a-i areconcurrently requesting the media content event, and/or are requestingthe media content event at different times, the requested media contentevent need only be sent the one time from the media content event accesssystem 116 to the second edge server 114. Accordingly, bandwidthcapacity of the communication link 118 between the media content eventaccess system 116 and the second edge server 114 may be reduced. Thatis, the bandwidth capacity (defined as the maximum number of bits persecond that may be communicated over the communication link 118, or bitpeak rate) of the communication link 118 may be less than acorresponding communication link between the media content event accesssystem 116 and the second edge server 114 if communication link capacityis otherwise required, on a real time basis, to communicate each andevery requested media content event to each and every media device 102that is serviced by the media content provider.

Further, bandwidth utilization of the communication link 118 between themedia content event access system 116 and the second edge server 114 maybe reduced. That is, bandwidth utilization (defined as the actual numberof bits per second being currently communicated over the communicationlink 118) of the communication link 118 may be less than a correspondingcommunication link between the media content event access system 116 andthe second edge server 114 if communication link utilization isotherwise used to communicate, on a real time basis, each and everyrequested media content event to each and every media device 102 that isserviced by the media content provider.

Further, another unexpected advantage provided by embodiments of theautomatic content download manager system 100 is a bandwidth capacityand/or utilization savings over the communication link 120 establishedbetween the first edge server 110 and the second edge server 114. Forexample, if multiple ones of the media devices 102 a-i are requestingthe same media content event at non-coincident times (where thepresentation times of the requested media content event are different ateach of the requesting media devices 102 a-i), then different portionsof the requested media content event must be otherwise streamed acrossthe communication link 120 at the same time. If the predicted requestingmedia devices 102 have previously received and saved the requested mediacontent event during a single communication event, then the differentportions of the requested media content event do not need to beconcurrently communicated, and/or communicated multiple times, over thecommunication link 120. Accordingly, bandwidth utilization of thecommunication link 120 is reduced.

Further, there may be a memory capacity savings at the first edge server110 and/or the second edge server 114. The requested media content event(or at least portions thereof) is temporarily stored at the first edgeserver 110 and/or second edge server 114 each time a requested mediacontent event is communicated over the communication system 108. Sincethe requested media content event is communicated to multiple ones ofthe media devices 102 a-i (the requesting media device 102 and one ormore predicted requesting media devices 102) during a singlecommunication event, then memory capacity and/or memory utilization atthe first edge server 110 and/or the second edge server 114 will bereduced.

To facilitate disclosure of an exemplary embodiment of the automaticcontent download manager system 100, delivery of media content events tothe media devices 102 a-i are briefly described. The media contentbroadcast facility 106 receives media content, in the form of aplurality of media content events, from a plurality of local programproviders or other content providers (not shown). The provided mediacontent events may include, but are not limited to, a televisionprogram, a newscast, a broadcast sports event, a movie, or the like. Themedia content is typically provided in the form of a video stream and asynchronized audio stream. The media content broadcast facility 106processes the received media content streams as necessary to preparethem for transmission to the plurality of media devices 102 a-i. Forexample, commercials and/or other non-media content event typeinformation may be incorporated with a particular media content event.Further, each media content may be associated with one or moreidentifiers, such as channel number and/or station call signs. Theprocessed media content events are aggregated together and are broadcastover the media content broadcast system 104 in one or more media contentstreams 122. The media content streams 122 are received at each of themedia devices 102 a-i.

A variety of communication system types may be used by the media contentbroadcast system 104 to communicate the media content stream 122, in abroadcasted media content signal comprising a plurality of currentlypresentable media content events, to the media devices 102 a-i. Themedia content broadcast system 104 may employ a satellite system 124wherein an uplink signal 126 is communicated from a ground antenna 128up to one or more satellites 130. The exemplary satellite 130 broadcastsa wireless satellite signal 132 down to a receiver antenna 134 that iscoupled to a respective one of the media devices 102 a-i. The mediadevices 102 a-i receive the media content stream 122 from Theirrespective receiver antenna 134.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media content broadcast system 104may employ an over the air (OTA) system 136, wherein the broadcastedmedia content signal is a wireless signal 138 that is communicated tothe receiver antenna 134 or to another antenna (not shown). The mediadevices 102 a-i receive the media content stream 122 from theirrespective receiver antenna 134 or the other antenna.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media content broadcast system 104may employ a cable system 140, wherein the broadcasted media contentsignal is a wire-based signal with the media content stream 122 that iscommunicated using a suitable cable 142 or the like that is coupled tothe media devices 102 a-i. Non-limiting examples of the cable 142include a fiber optic cable, a coaxial cable, and telephone line.

In an exemplary embodiment, the media content event access system 116comprises a processor system 144, a memory 146, a media content storagesystem 148, an edge server interface 150, and a media content broadcastfacility (MCBF) interface 152. The processor system 144 iscommunicatively coupled to the memory 146, and is controllably coupledto the media content storage system 148, the edge server interface 150,and the media content broadcast facility interface 152. The memory 146includes memory medium regions that store the user history predictionlogic 154, media content event (MCE) prediction logic 156, and/or aclient information database 158. The user history prediction logic 154and the media content event prediction logic 156 may be integratedtogether, and/or may be integrated with other logic, in the variousembodiments. Other components not described herein may be included inother embodiments of the media content event access system 116. Further,the media content event access system 116 may be integrated within, ormay reside within, the media content broadcast facility 106.

The media content storage system 148 employs a memory medium that isconfigured to store a plurality of different media content events,and/or media content events in different formats, such as, but notlimited to, a standard definition format and a high definition format.Any number of media content events may be stored in the media contentstorage system 148. Selected media content events may be added to ordeleted from the media content storage system 148 as desired.Preferably, management of the stored media content events is performedby the media content provider. Alternatively, other entities may managethe storage of media content events in the media content storage system148.

In some embodiments, the media content storage system 148 is adistributed system that is managed by one or even multiple entities.Memory device components of a distributed media content storage system148 may be communicatively coupled together and/or managed using anysuitable communication system. In an example embodiment, differentmemory device components of the media content storage system 148 arecommunicatively coupled together via the example communication system108.

The media content events may be received at the media content eventaccess system 116 in a variety of manners. For example, media contentevents may be directly communicated from the media content broadcastfacility 106 to the media content event access system 116 via anestablished communication link 160. Alternatively, or additionally, themedia content event access system 116 may receive the media contentevents when broadcasted from the media content broadcast facility 106(in a manner similar to that used by the media devices 102).Alternatively, or additionally, the media content events may be receivedon a portable memory medium, such as a compact disc (CD), a flash-typememory, a tape, or the like. Alternatively, or additionally, the mediacontent events may be received from a remote device via thecommunication system 108 or another suitable communication system (notshown).

The memory 146 and/or the media content storage system 148 may be anysuitable memory device or system. Depending upon the embodiment, thememory 146 and/or the media content storage system 148 may be adedicated memory system, may be part of another component or system,and/or may be a distributed memory system. The memory 146 and/or themedia content storage system 148 may also include other logic, modulesand/or databases not illustrated or described herein. In someembodiments, the memory 146 and the media content storage system 148 maybe implemented in the same memory medium, device, or system.

The edge server interface 150 is configured to communicatively couplethe media content event access system 116 with the example second edgeserver 114 via the example communication link 118. In some embodiments,the edge server interface 150 is a generic server interface that may beconfigured to communicatively couple to a plurality of different secondedge servers 114 that may be geographically dispersed at convenientlocations. Further, the edge server interface 150 may support aplurality of communication links 118 established with multiple secondedge servers 114. The communication link 118 may use any suitable mediumand/or system, such as a fiber optic cable, a coaxial cable, a telephoneline, a frame relay based system, an interact or intranet system, alocal access network (LAN) system, an Ethernet system, a coaxial cablesystem, a radio frequency (RF) system, a cellular system, or the like.Furthermore, the communication link 118 may employ a hybrid systemcomprised of one or more of the above-described mediums and/or systems.

In practice, the media content broadcast facility interface 152 is ageneric communication interface that is configured to communicativelycouple the media content event access system 116 and the media contentbroadcast facility 106 via the communication link 160. The communicationlink 160 may use any suitable medium and/or system, such as a fiberoptic cable, a coaxial cable, a telephone line, a frame relay basedsystem, an interact or intranet system, a local access network (LAN)system, an Ethernet system, a coaxial cable system, a radio frequency(RF) system, a cellular system, or the like. Furthermore, thecommunication link 160 may employ a hybrid system comprised of one ormore of the above-described mediums and/or systems.

When the user history prediction logic 154 is implemented as software,the user history prediction logic 154 can be stored on anycomputer-readable medium, such as the memory 146, for use by or inconnection with any computer and/or processor related system, such asthe example processor system 144. The memory 146 is a computer-readablemedium that is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other anotherphysical device or means that contains or stores a computer and/orprocessor program. The user history prediction logic 154 can be embodiedin any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as acomputer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system thatcan fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device and execute the instructions associated with theuser history prediction logic 154. In the context of this disclosure, a“computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program associated with the user historyprediction logic 154 for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, and/or device.

The computer-readable medium of memory 146 and/or the media contentstorage system 148 may be, for example, but not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Morespecific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable mediumwould include the following: an electrical connection having one or morewires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card,secure digital, or the like), a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM,or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact discread-only memory (CDROM). In some embodiments, the computer-readablemedium, may be paper or another suitable medium upon which the programassociated with the user history prediction logic 154 is printed, as theprogram can be electronically captured, via for instance opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin memory 146 or in another memory medium.

In some embodiments, the communication system 108 is a contentdistribution network that provides access to cached data, such as arequested media content event. Edge servers 110, 114, in a systemadministration context, are server devices that reside on an “edge”between two networks, typically a private network and the Internet, andis located close to a plurality of client devices (such as the mediacontent event access system 116 and the media devices 102 a-i). Forexample, the first edge server 110 is relatively close to the pluralityof media devices 102 a-i. The second edge server 114 is relatively closeto the media content event access system 116. A plurality of edgeservers, which may include the example edge servers 104, 114, arecommunicatively connected with each other and the private network overhigh capacity communication links. Some embodiments employ TransmissionControl Protocol (TCP) and/or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) typeconnections that may be implemented on backbone network, such as, butnot limited to, one or more fiber optic bundles.

In the various embodiments, the requested media content event is alsosent to those predicted requesting media devices 102 for storage. Thepredicted requesting media devices 102 are identified by specifyingtheir identifiers.

Embodiments of the automatic content download manager system 100 areconfigured to identify the predicted requesting media devices 102 from alarge number of media devices 102 a-i. Two criteria are used to identifya media device 102 as being one of the predicted requesting mediadevices 102.

A first criteria is a proximity criteria that corresponds to a proximityof a sub-group of the media devices 102 a-i to the first edge server 110that is providing the requested media content event to the requestingmedia device 102. That is, the sub-group of the media devices 102 a-imust be able to establish a communication link 112 to the first edgeserver 110 that is providing the requested media content event to therequesting media device 102. For those media devices 102 a-i that areunable to establish a communication link 112 to the first edge server110 that is providing the requested media content event to therequesting media device 102, such media devices 102 a-i would not beidentified as a predicted requesting media device 102.

Information identifying sub-groups of media devices 102 that are able toestablish a communication link 112 to a particular one of a plurality offirst edge servers 104 is stored in the memory 146, such as in theclient information database 158. The identifiers of the media devices102 a-i is a particular sub-group of media devices 102 are associatedwith the sub-group and are stored in the client information database158. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more of those first edgeservers 110 to which a particular media device 102 is capable ofestablishing a link with may be stored with, or associated with,identifiers of each one of the media devices 102. Any suitable databaseformat may be used to identify members of a particular sub-group ofmedia devices 102 by the various embodiments.

A media device 102 may be a member of multiple sub-groups of mediadevices 102. In such situations, the automatic content download managersystem 100 also tracks if and/or when a requested media content event issent to that particular media device 102 when it has been identified asa predicted requesting media device 102 or a requesting media device102. Accordingly, the requested media content event is not sent to thatparticular media device 102 multiple times.

A second criteria is a user media content event preference criteria thatcorresponds to one or more characteristics of available media contentevents that the user may be interested in receiving at their mediadevice 102. Based on a history of user selection of media contentevents, and/or based on a history of media content events requested byan associated media device 102, a plurality of media content eventcharacteristics are identified which correlate to media content eventsthat are likely to be requested by the user of a particular one of themedia devices 102 a-i and/or the associated media device 102. That is,embodiments of the automatic content download manager system 100 areconfigured to learn about the user's media content event selectionhabits and/or about a media device's 102 request pattern. Based uponwhat is learned about a particular user and/or media device 102,embodiments are configured to predict whether or not a requested mediacontent event that is communicated to a requesting media device 102 isalso likely to also be requested by the media device 102 of thatparticular user.

In an example embodiment, a history of selected media content eventsselected by users of each of the media devices 102 a-i serviced by themedia content provider may be stored in the client information database158 or may be stored in another suitable memory medium. Alternatively,or additionally, a history of selected media content events requested byeach of the media devices 102 a-i serviced by the media content providerare stored in the client information database 158 or may be stored inanother suitable memory medium.

Each media content event is associated with a plurality of media contentevent characteristics. A non-limiting example of a media content eventcharacteristic includes one or more subject matter themes of the mediacontent event. For example, the media content event may be associatedwith an action theme, a romance theme, a comedy theme, a travel theme,or the like. Other non-limiting media content event characteristics areidentities of actors, identities of directors, identities of producers,identification of film locations, identity of a film production entity,identity of a media content event title (such as for a television seriesor the like), or the like.

The processor system 144, executing the user history prediction logic154, analyzes the media content event characteristics of a plurality ofmedia content events that have been selected by the user of a particularmedia device 102. The media content event characteristics of selectedmedia content events are used to identify one or more user preferences.The user preferences are defined by identifying those media contentevent characteristics that are common among the selected media contentevents.

For example, but not limited to, the media device 102 a may oftenpresent action themed media content events and comedy themed mediacontent events to the users of the media device 102 a. Alternatively, oradditionally, a particular media device 102 a may often present mediacontent events with the actor Bob Smith, and/or media content eventsfilmed in a jungle. In contrast, the media device 102 b may oftenpresent romantic themed media content events and comedy themed mediacontent events to the users of the media device 102 b. Alternatively, oradditionally, a particular media device 102 b may often present mediacontent events with the actor John Doe, and/or media content eventsfilmed in Paris.

In the above illustrative simplified examples, the automatic contentdownload manager system 100 would “learn” that the media device 102 a islikely to request media content events that have action themes, havecomedy themes, have the actor Bob Smith, and/or that are filmed in thejungle. In contrast, the automatic content download manager system 100would “learn” that the media device 102 b is likely to request mediacontent events that have romantic themes, have comedy themes, have theactor John Doe, and/or that are filmed in Paris. The preferred mediacontent event characteristics are determined and stored in the clientinformation database 158. Over time, for each of the many media devices102 a-i, a large number of preferred media content event characteristicsmay be associated with each particular media device 102. The associatedpreferred media content event characteristics may be based on history ofa single user, an identified user, or a group of users, that areassociated with a particular media content event.

When the media content event access system 116 sends a particularrequested media content event to the first edge server 110 forcommunication to the requesting media device 102, the processors system144, executing the media content event prediction logic 156, accessesinformation in the client information database 158 to identify anypredicted requesting media devices 102 that should also concurrentlyreceive the requested media content event from the first edge server110.

Initially, the sub-groups of media devices 102 that are configured toestablish a communication link with the first edge server 110 receivingthe requested media content event are identified. In other embodiments,those media devices 102 that are able to establish a communication link112 to the first edge server 110 are identified.

Then, for the identified media devices 102, media content eventcharacteristics associated with the requested media content event arecompared with the learned preferred media content event characteristicsof the identified media devices 102 of the sub-group. When a correlationbetween the media content event characteristics of the requested mediacontent event is made with the learned preferred media content eventcharacteristics of a particular media device 102, that media device 102is identified as a predicted requesting media device 102. The identifierof that identified media device (now identified as a predictedrequesting media device 102) is communicated to the first edge server110.

In response to receiving the identifiers of one or more predictedrequesting media devices 102, the first edge server 110 communicates thereceived requested media content event to those predicted requestingmedia devices 102. If a communication link 112 exists between thereceiving first edge server 110 and the identified predicted requestingmedia device 102, the requested media content event is sent from thefirst edge server 110 to the predicted requesting media device 102 overthe established communication link 112.

In the event that the communication link 112 is not currentlyestablished between the receiving first edge server 110 and theidentified predicted requesting media device 102, the receiving firstedge server 110 initiates establishment of the communication link 112.In such situations, the predicted requesting media device 102 associatedwith the second identifier is configured to establish a communicationlink over the first edge server 110 in response to receiving a requestfrom the first edge server 110. Any suitable process and/or protocol maybe used to establish the communication link 112 between the first edgeserver 110 and an identified predicted requesting media device 102.

Continuing with the above simplified illustrative example, a firstrequested media content event may be associated with an action mediacontent event theme. Further, the user history prediction logic 154 haslearned that the media device 102 a is likely to request action themedmedia content events. The processor system 144, executing the mediacontent event prediction logic 156 and in response to the firstrequested media content event being sent to the first edge server 110,would identify the media devices 102 a and 102 b as being a member ofthe sub-group of media devices 102 that may establish a communicationlink 112 with the receiving first edge server 110. Since the mediadevice 102 a is likely to request action themed media content events,and since the first requested media content event has an action theme,the media device 102 a would be identified as a predicted requestingmedia device 102. In contrast, since the media device 102 b is notlikely to request action themed media content events (since actionthemes are not associated with the learned preferred media content eventcharacteristics of the media device 102 b), the media device 102 b wouldnot be identified as a predicted requesting media device 102.Accordingly, the media content event access system 116 would provide theidentity of the media device 102 a to the first edge server 110 so thatthe first requested media content event may also be communicated to themedia device 102 a.

Continuing with the simplified illustrative example, a second requestedmedia content event may be associated with romantic media content eventtheme. Further, the user history prediction logic 154 has learned thatthe media device 102 b is likely to request romantic themed mediacontent events. The processor system 144, executing the media contentevent prediction logic 156 and in response to the second requested mediacontent event being sent to the first edge server 110, would identifythe media devices 102 a and 102 b as being a member of the sub-group ofmedia devices 102 that may establish a communication link 112 with thereceiving first edge server 110. Since the media device 102 b is likelyto request romantic themed media content events, and since the requestedmedia content event has a romantic-based theme, the media device 102 bwould be identified as a predicted requesting media device 102. Incontrast, since the media device 102 a is not likely to request actionthemed media content events (since romantic themes are not associatedwith the learned preferred media content event characteristics of themedia device 102 a), the media device 102 a would not be identified as apredicted requesting media device 102. Accordingly, the media contentevent access system 116 would provide the identity of the media device102 b to the first edge server 110 so that the second requested mediacontent event may also be communicated to the media device 102 b.

Continuing with the simplified illustrative example, a third requestedmedia content event may have both of the actors Bob Smith and John Doe.Further, the user history prediction logic 154 has learned that themedia devices 102 a and 102 b are likely to request media content eventswith these two actors. The processor system 144, executing the mediacontent event prediction logic 156 and in response to the secondrequested media content event being sent to the first edge server 110,would identify the media devices 102 a and 102 b as being a member ofthe sub-group of media devices 102 that may establish a communicationlink 112 with the receiving first edge server 110. Since the mediadevice 102 a is likely to request media content events with the actorBob Smith, and since the media device 102 b is likely to request mediacontent events with the actor John Doe, the media devices 102 a and 102b would be identified as a predicted requesting media devices 102.Accordingly, the media content event access system 116 would provide theidentity of the media devices 102 a and 102 b to the first edge server110 so that the second requested media content event may also becommunicated to the media devices 102 a and 102 b.

In some embodiments, other supplemental media content eventcharacteristics may be associated with a particular media device. Suchsupplemental media content event characteristics may be stored in theclient information database 158 or in another suitable memory. Thesupplemental media content event characteristics may be used indetermining whether a requested media content event should also be sentto a particular media device when it is identified as a predictedrequesting media device 102. For example, the media device 102 a mayhistorically tend to have a preference for high definition format mediacontent events. In contrast, media device 102 b may tend to have apreference for standard definition media content events. If a highdefinition format requested media content event is sent to the firstedge server 110, and if the media device 102 a is identified as apredicted requesting media device 102, then the high definition formatrequested media content event may also be sent to the media device 102a. In contrast, since the media device 102 b is not associated with highdefinition format media content events, the media device 102 b would notbe identified as a predicted requesting media device 102.

In the various embodiments, the user history prediction logic 154 mayemploy any suitable algorithm, or multiple algorithms, for learningabout user preferences that are associated with the media devices 102a-i. Selection of media content event characteristics for use inpredicting user preferences may be based on any characteristic that maybe associated with media content events. Further, any suitable number ofmedia content event characteristics may be used to predict userpreferences.

Information pertaining to user selection of media content events may beobtained from one or more sources. Alternatively, or additionally,information pertaining to media content events requested by particularmedia devices 102 may be obtained from the sources. In an exampleembodiment, information corresponding to user selection (or selection byan associated media device 102) of premium media content events that areprovided on a pay-for-view basis is provided by the media contentprovider. For example, the purchase of pay-per-view media contentevents, such as movies, sporting events, or the like, may be tracked bythe media content provider, and then the associated information may becommunicated to the media content event access system 116.Alternatively, or additionally, the media content provider may provideinformation pertaining to the media content event characteristics ofpurchased media content events.

Alternatively, or additionally, information pertaining to user selectionof media content events may be obtained from each one of the mediadevices 102 a-i. For example, information may be obtained from userselection of media content events made while using a graphical userinterface, such as a program guide or the like. Alternatively, oradditionally, information identifying media content events stored on theDVR of the media device 102 may be provided to the media content eventaccess system 116 by the media devices 102. The media device 102 mayprovide the title or other identifier of a user selected media contentevent to the media content event access system 116. The media contentevent access system 116 may then look up or obtains media content eventcharacteristics associated with the identified media content event.Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may providesupplemental information pertaining to a selected media content event,such as meta data, to the media content event access system 116. Thesupplemental information may be used as the media content eventcharacteristics and/or may be correlated with other media content eventcharacteristics that are used to determine user preferences.

Alternatively, or additionally, information that may be used todetermine user preferences may be obtained from a third party. Forexample, a history of user purchases and rentals from a media contentevent provider of digital video discs (DVDs) may be obtained. The user'sDVD purchase and/or DVD rental history may then be processed todetermine the plurality of preferred media content event characteristicsassociated with the user. When a user identifier (such as a name,account number, drivers license, or the like) has been associated withthe identifier of a particular media device 102, then such informationmay be used to determine user preferences.

Alternatively, or additionally, information that may be used todetermine user preferences may be provided by the users themselves. Forexample, the user may provide information by answering questions on aquestionnaire and/or may select preferences of interest from a list ofpreferences. The questionnaire and/or list of preferences of interestmay be presented to the user on a graphical user interface presented onthe media presentation device 107 and/or may be in hard copy form thatis mailed to the media content provided or another entity forprocessing. A user identifier (such as a name, account number, driverslicense, or the like) of the user providing the information may beassociated with a particular media device 107.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary media device 102. Theexemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled to a mediapresentation system 107 that includes a visual display device 202, suchas a television (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audio presentationdevice 204, such as a surround sound receiver (hereafter, generically, aspeaker). Other types of output devices may also be coupled to the mediadevice 102, including those providing any sort of stimuli sensible by ahuman being, such as temperature, vibration and the like. The videoportion of the media content event is displayed on the display 206 andthe audio portion of the media content event is reproduced as sounds byone or more speakers 208. In some embodiments, the media device 102 andone or more of the components of the media presentation system 106 maybe integrated into a single electronic device.

The non-limiting exemplary media device 102 comprises a media contentstream interface 210, a processor system 212, a memory 214, a programbuffer 216, an optional storage medium (such as, but not limited to, adigital video recorder (DVR)) 218, a presentation device interface 220,a remote interface 222, and an edge server interface 224. The processorsystem 212 is communicatively coupled to at least the media contentstream interface 210 and the edge server interface 224, and iscontrollably coupled at least to the DVR 218. The memory 214 comprisesportions for storing the media device logic 226, the electronic programguide (EPG) information 228 optional user media content event (NICE)selection information database 230, and the optional user historyprediction logic 232. In some embodiments, the video device logic 226and the user history prediction logic 232 may be integrated together,and/or may be integrated with other logic. Other media devices 102 mayinclude some, or may omit some, of the above-described media processingcomponents. Further, additional components not described herein may beincluded in alternative embodiments.

The DVR 218 comprises at least two portions 234 and 236. The useraccessible portion 234 is user accessible and may be used to store userspecified media content events. In an example embodiment, the otherportion is hidden from the user. That is, the user is not able toindependently access the hidden portion 236 and/or access a listing ofthe stored contents of the hidden portion 236. Media content eventsreceived from the first edge server 110 are stored in the userinaccessible hidden portion 236 if the user is not to have independentaccess to the received media content events. Prior to accessing a storedmedia content event stored in the hidden portion 236, the user mustfirst obtain access authorization from the media service provider.Access authorization may be provided in any suitable manner. Once theaccess authorization has been granted, the requested media content eventmay be immediately retrieved from the hidden portion 234 forpresentation to the user.

However, some media content events received from the first edge server110 may be stored in the user accessible portion 234, and thus beaccessible by the user. Received media content events stored on the useraccessible portion 234 may be freely available type media contentevents, such as a previously broadcasted television show, movie, newscast, sporting event or the like. Accordingly, the media device 102 mayaccess the requested media content event from the user accessibleportion 134 immediately in response to a user request for presentationof the stored media content event. Thus, a virtual video on demand forproviding access to free programming may be emulated by the mediadevices 102.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. A media content provider provides media content thatis received in one or more multiple media content streams 122multiplexed together in one or more transport channels. The transportchannels with the media content streams 122 are communicated to themedia device 102 from a media system sourced from the remote mediacontent broadcast facility 106 (FIG. 1) operated by the media contentprovider. Non-limiting examples of such media systems include satellitesystems, cable system, and the Internet. For example, if the mediacontent provider provides programming via a satellite-basedcommunication system, the media device 102 is configured to receive oneor more broadcasted satellite signals detected by an antenna (notshown). Alternatively, or additionally, the media content stream 104 canbe received from one or more different sources, such as, but not limitedto, a cable system, a radio frequency (RF) communication system, or theInternet.

The one or more media content streams 122 are received by the mediacontent stream interface 210. One or more tuners 238 in the mediacontent stream interface 210 selectively tune to one of the mediacontent streams 122 in accordance with instructions received from theprocessor system 212. The processor system 212, executing the mediadevice logic 226 and based upon a request for a media content event ofinterest specified by a user, parses out media content associated withthe media content event of interest. The media content event of interestis then assembled into a stream of video and/or audio information whichmay be stored by the program buffer 216 such that the media content canbe streamed out to components of the media presentation system 107, suchas the visual display device 202 and/or the audio presentation device204, via the presentation device interface 220.

Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out media content may besaved into the portion 234 of the DVR 218 for later presentation. Thestorage device, such as the example DVR 218 or another storage medium,may be directly provided in, locally connected to, or remotely connectedto, the media device 102. In alternative embodiments, the media contentstreams 122 may be stored for later decompression, processing and/ordecryption.

From time to time, information populating the EPG information 228portion of the memory 214 is communicated to the media device 102, viathe media content stream 104 or via another suitable media. The EPGinformation 228 portion stores the information pertaining to thescheduled programming. The information may include, but is not limitedto, a scheduled presentation start and/or end time, a program channel,and descriptive information. The program's descriptive information mayinclude the tide of the program, names of performers or actors, date ofcreation, and a summary describing the nature of the program. Anysuitable information may be included in the program's supplementalinformation. Upon receipt of a command from the user requestingpresentation of an EPG 240 on the display 206, the information in theEPG information 228 is retrieved, formatted, and then presented on thedisplay 206 as an EPG 240.

In the various embodiments, the EPG 240 may be modified to present alisting of available media content events that may be selected by theuser. A listing of the available media content events may be stored asinformation in the EPG information or may be separately stored in thememory 214. Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may beoperated to establish a communication link (not shown) to the mediacontent event access system 116 or another remote device whereinformation pertaining to the available media content events may beretrieved.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to receive commands from auser via a remote control 242. The remote control 242 includes one ormore controllers 244. The user, by actuating one or more of thecontrollers 244, causes the remote control 242 to generate and transmitcommands, via a wireless signal 246, to the media device 102. Thecommands control the media device 102 and/or control the mediapresentation devices 128. The wireless signal 246 may be an infrared(IR) signal or a radio frequency (RF) signal that is detectable by theremote interface 116.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the received media content stream 122 and communication ofa presentable media content event to the components of the mediapresentation system 107 are generally implemented by the processorsystem 212 while executing the media device logic 226. Thus, the mediadevice 102 may perform a variety of functions related to the processingand presentation of one or more media content events received in themedia content stream 122 and/or stored in the DVR 218.

Some embodiments of the media device 102 are configured to communicatewith devices operated by the media content provider. For example, if amedia content event is of interest to a user of the media device 102,and the media content event is a pay-for-view type of event, the usermay electronically purchase the pay-for-view media content event byoperating the media device 102. Accordingly, the media service provideris aware of those pay-for-view media content events purchased at themedia device 102.

When user media content event selection history is provided to the mediacontent event access system 116 by the media service provider, theinformation may be based on the pay-for-view media content eventspurchased at the media device 102. Accordingly, the media content eventaccess system 116 may use the provided information to generate the userinformation that is saved into the client information database 158.

Alternatively, or additionally, information pertaining to all types ofselected media content events may be stored by the media device 102. Forexample, when a user selects a media content event by navigating aboutthe presented EPG 240, information pertaining to the user selections maybe stored in the user media content event selection information database230 portion of the memory 214. For example, titles of other identifiersof selected media content events may be saved into the user mediacontent event selection information database 230. Alternatively, oradditionally, if information corresponding to the media content eventcharacteristics of selected media content events is available, thatinformation may optionally be saved into the user media content eventselection information database 230.

In such embodiments that save user selection information into the usermedia content event selection information database 230, the informationmay be periodically downloaded to the media content event access system116 or to another device. For example, the edge server interface 224, oranother interface, may be configured to periodically establish acommunication link to a remote device under the control of the mediacontent service provider of another entity to receive software updatesor other information. The information pertaining to the user selectionsof media content events may then be downloaded from the media contentevent selection information database 230 portion of the memory 214 tothe connected device.

Alternatively, or additionally, the media device 102 may initiateestablishment of the links 112, 120, 118 so as to directly connect tothe media content event access system 116. Once communications areestablished between the media device 102 and the media content eventaccess system 116, the information pertaining to the user selections ofmedia content events may then be downloaded from the media device 102 tothe media content event access system 116. Further, the informationpertaining to the user selections of media content events may bedownloaded from the media device 102 to the media content event accesssystem 116 any time a media content event is received from the firstedge server 110.

Some embodiments of the media device 102 may be configured to determineuser preferences. The processor system 212, executing the user historyprediction logic 232, may access information stored in the user mediacontent event selection information database 230. The accessedinformation is analyzed to determine media content event characteristicsthat are of interest to the user. The determined user preferenceinformation may be saved into the user media content event selectioninformation database 230 or into another portion of the memory 214 orinto another memory. Once communications are established between themedia device 102 and the media content event access system 116, thedetermined user preference information may then be downloaded from themedia device 102 to the media content event access system 116. Further,the determined user preference information may be downloaded from themedia device 102 to the media content event access system 116 any time amedia content event is received from the first edge server 110

In some embodiments, the media device 102 may receive a user request fora particular requested media content event, such as when the user isnavigating about a presented EPG 240 which lists available media contentevents. Prior to accessing the requested media content event from aremote device, the media device 102 may optionally check the first edgeserver 110 to determine if the requested media content event is alreadyresiding on the memory of the first edge server 110. If the requestedmedia content event, or a portion of the requested media content event,is already at the first edge server 110, then the requested mediacontent event (or portion thereof) may be retrieved from the first edgeserver 110. In the event that a portion of the requested media contentevent is available at the first edge server 110, the amount of data toobtain the entire requested media content event will be reduced, therebyconserving communication system resources.

In some embodiments, an initial portion of a requested media contentevent is sent to predicted requesting media devices 102. Accordingly,when the user of the media device 102 requests the media content event,the initial stored portion of the media content event may be presentedto the user while the remaining portion of the media content event isaccessed from another remote media content delivery device or from themedia content event access system 116. When presentation of the storedinitial portion of the media content event has concluded, thenpresentation of the retrieved remaining portion begins. An unexpectedbenefit of this embodiment is that memory capacity of the media device102 which is used for storing only the initial portion of the requestedmedia content event may be reduced (as compared to storing the entiretyof the media content event at the media device 102). Accordingly,initial portion for a greater number of different available mediacontent events can be received from the first edge server 110 and storedin the hidden portion 236 and/or the user accessible portion 234 of theDVR 218 (since storage of a very large number of media content events intheir entirety at the media device 102 may not be practical or evenpossible).

Various embodiments of the automatic content download manager system 100may be configured to cooperatively operate with other methods andapparatuses which operate the media devices 102. For example, theautomatic content download manager system 100 may cooperatively operatewith a video on demand system. As another example, the automatic contentdownload manager system 100 may operate in cooperation with amaintenance system which updates and/or downloads software to the mediadevices 102.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of theautomatic content download manager system 100 are merely possibleexamples of implementations of the invention. Many variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included herein withinthe scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for providing media content eventsfrom a first edge server to a first plurality of media devices that arecommunicatively coupled to the first edge server, wherein the first edgeserver is communicatively coupled to a second edge server via acommunication system, and wherein requested media content events arecommunicated from a media content event access system to the first edgeserver via the second edge server, the method comprising: receiving, atthe first edge server, a media content event from the media contentevent access system in response to a request for the media content eventfrom a first media device that is a member of the first plurality ofmedia devices; storing the media content event requested by the firstmedia device at the first edge server for a predefined storage duration,wherein the media content event is no longer stored at the first edgeserver after expiration of the predefined storage duration;communicating the media content event from the first edge server to thefirst media device; identifying a second plurality of media devicesafter the first edge server has received and stored the media contentevent, wherein each of the second plurality of media devices has amemory medium with a first portion and a second portion that storesmedia content events, wherein, when one media device of the secondplurality of media devices presents an electronic program guide (EPG),the presented EPG includes a list of media content events received fromthe first edge server that are authorized to be presented and that arestored in a first portion of the memory medium at the one media deviceof the second plurality of media devices, and wherein the presented EPGomits a list of media content events received from the first edge serverthat are not authorized to be presented and that are stored in a secondportion of the memory medium at the one media device of the secondplurality of media devices; identifying a third plurality of mediadevices from the second plurality of media devices that are authorizedto present the media content event; identifying a fourth plurality ofmedia devices from the second plurality of media devices that are notauthorized to present the media content event; communicating the mediacontent event before expiration of the predefined storage duration fromthe first edge server to the second plurality of media devices that havenot requested the media content event, wherein the media content eventis stored in a first portion of a memory medium at each of the thirdplurality of media devices that are authorized to present the mediacontent event, and wherein the media content event is stored in a secondportion of a memory medium at each of the fourth plurality of mediadevices that are not authorized to present the media content event. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating the media content eventto the second plurality of media devices comprises: communicating one offirst information or second information with the communicated mediacontent event, wherein the first information causes each of the thirdplurality of media devices to store the media content event in the firstportion of the memory medium at each of the third plurality of mediadevices, and wherein the second information causes each of the fourthplurality of media devices to store the media content event in the firstportion of the memory medium at each of the fourth plurality of mediadevices.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein after the media content eventhas been communicated to the second plurality of media devices, themethod further comprises: receiving a request for the media contentevent at the first edge server from one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices; communicating the request to the mediacontent event access system via the second edge server; receivingauthorization from the media content event access system at the firstedge server, wherein the authorization authorizes the requesting onemedia device of the fourth plurality of media devices to present themedia content event; and communicating third information from the firstedge server to the requesting one media device of the fourth pluralityof media devices, wherein the third information permits the requestingone media device of the fourth plurality of media devices to access andpresent the media content event that is stored in the second portion ofthe memory medium at the requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein after themedia content event has been communicated to the second plurality ofmedia devices, the method further comprises: receiving a request for themedia content event at the media content event access system from theone media device of the fourth plurality of media devices; determining,by the media content event access system, that the requesting one mediadevice of the fourth plurality of media devices is authorized to presentthe media content event; and communicating third information from themedia content event access system to the requesting one media device ofthe fourth plurality of media devices, wherein the third informationpermits the requesting one media device of the fourth plurality of mediadevices to access and present the media content event that is stored inthe second portion of the memory medium at the requesting one mediadevice of the fourth plurality of media devices.
 5. The method of claim4, wherein the request received from the requesting one media device ofthe fourth plurality of media devices includes payment to access themedia content event.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein, after the mediacontent event has been communicated to the second plurality of mediadevices, the method further comprises: receiving a request for the mediacontent event at a media service provider that provides the mediacontent event to the media content event access system for distributionto the first plurality of media devices; determining, by the mediaservice provider, that a requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices is authorized to present the media contentevent; and communicating third information from the media serviceprovider to the requesting one media device of the fourth plurality ofmedia devices, wherein the third information permits the requesting onemedia device of the fourth plurality of media devices to access andpresent the media content event that is stored in the second portion ofthe memory medium at the requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein therequest received from the requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices includes payment to access the media contentevent.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to communicating themedia content event to the second plurality of media devices, the methodfurther comprising: establishing a communication link between the firstedge server and each one of the second plurality of media devices,wherein the media content event is then communicated from the first edgeserver to the second plurality of media devices via the respectiveestablished communication link.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein, afterthe predefined storage duration, the method further comprising: erasingthe media content event requested by the first media device that isstored at the first edge server in response to expiration of thepredefined storage duration, wherein the media content event remainsstored in the memory medium at each of the second plurality of mediadevices.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication systemcommunicatively coupling the first edge server and the second edgeserver is a private data transport system that transports the mediacontent event requested by the first media device from the second edgeserver to the first edge server for a fee.
 11. The method of claim 1,wherein the identifying the second plurality of media devices after thefirst edge server has received and stored the media content eventcomprises: predicting, for each media device of the second plurality ofmedia devices, that the media device of the second plurality of mediadevices is likely to request the media content event, wherein theprediction is based on an analysis of usage history about presentationof other media content events at each media device of the secondplurality of media devices.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein theidentifying the second plurality of media devices after the first edgeserver has received and stored the media content event comprises:determining if the media content event has already been communicated toeach of the first plurality of media devices, wherein any of the firstplurality of media devices that have already received the media contentevent are not selected as members of the second plurality of mediadevices.
 13. A system comprising: a first edge server comprising amemory, the first edge server communicatively coupled to a firstplurality of media devices, wherein the first edge server iscommunicatively coupled to a second edge server via a private datatransport system that transports media content events from a mediacontent event access system via the second edge server to the first edgeserver for a fee, the first edge server is configured to: receive amedia content event from a media content event access system in responseto a request for the media content event from a first media device thatis a member of the first plurality of media devices; store the mediacontent event requested by the first media device for a predefinedstorage duration, wherein the media content event is no longer stored atthe first edge server after expiration of the predefined storageduration, communicate the stored media content event to the first mediadevice; identify a second plurality of media devices after receiving themedia content event, wherein each of the second plurality of mediadevices has a memory medium with a first portion and a second portionthat stores media content events, wherein, when one media device of thesecond plurality of media devices presents an electronic program guide(EPG), the presented EPG includes a list of media content eventsreceived from the first edge server that are authorized to be presentedand that are stored in a first portion of a memory medium at the onemedia device of the second plurality of media devices, and wherein thepresented EPG omits a list of media content events received from thefirst edge server that are not authorized to be presented and that arestored in a second portion of the memory medium at the one media deviceof the second plurality of media devices; identify a third plurality ofmedia devices from the second plurality of media devices that areauthorized to present the media content event; identify a fourthplurality of media devices from the second plurality of media devicesthat are not authorized to present the media content event; andcommunicate the media content event before expiration of the predefinedstorage duration from the first edge server to the second plurality ofmedia devices that have not requested the media content event, whereinthe media content event is stored in a first portion of a memory mediumat each of the third plurality of media devices that are authorized topresent the media content event, and wherein the media content event isstored in a second portion of a memory medium at each of the fourthplurality of media devices that are not authorized to present the mediacontent event.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first edge serveris further configured to: communicate one of first information or secondinformation with the communicated media content event, wherein the firstinformation causes the third plurality of media devices to store themedia content event in the first portion of the memory medium at each ofthe third plurality of media devices, and wherein the second informationcauses the fourth plurality of media devices to store the media contentevent in the first portion of the memory medium at each of the fourthplurality of media devices.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein thefirst edge server is configured to: after the media content event hasbeen communicated to the second plurality of media devices, receive arequest for the media content event at the first edge server from onemedia device of the fourth plurality of media devices; communicate therequest to the media content event access system via the second edgeserver; receive authorization from the media content event access systemat the first edge server, wherein the authorization authorizes therequesting one media device of the fourth plurality of media devices topresent the media content event; and communicate third information fromthe first edge server to the requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices, wherein the third information permits therequesting one media device of the fourth plurality of media devices toaccess and present the media content event that is stored in the secondportion of the memory medium at the requesting one media device of thefourth plurality of media devices.
 16. The system of claim 13, whereinthe first edge server is configured to: after the media content eventhas been communicated to the second plurality of media devices, send arequest for the media content event to the media content event accesssystem from one media device of the fourth plurality of media devices;where the system further comprises the media content event accesssystem, which comprises a processor and memory, and is configured to:determine that the requesting one media device of the fourth pluralityof media devices is authorized to present the media content event; andcommunicate third information to the requesting one media device of thefourth plurality of media devices, wherein the third information permitsthe requesting one media device of the fourth plurality of media devicesto access and present the media content event that is stored in thesecond portion of the memory medium at the requesting one media deviceof the fourth plurality of media devices.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the request received from the requesting one media device of thefourth plurality of media devices includes payment to access the mediacontent event.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the system furthercomprises a media service provider that is configured to: after themedia content event has been communicated to the second plurality ofmedia devices, receive a request for the media content event at themedia service provider that provides the media content event to themedia content event access system for distribution to the firstplurality of media devices; determine that a requesting one media deviceof the fourth plurality of media devices is authorized to present themedia content event; and communicate third information to the requestingone media device of the fourth plurality of media devices, wherein thethird information permits the requesting one media device of the fourthplurality of media devices to access and present the media content eventthat is stored in the second portion of the memory medium at therequesting one media device of the fourth plurality of media devices.19. The system of claim 18, wherein the request received from therequesting one media device of the fourth plurality of media devicesincludes payment to access the media content event.